The Color is Mostly Gone.

Autumn is literally flying by. With strong winds last week, the leaves have quivered and sailed to the ground in whirlwind manner, adding to the stark views through the woods where every bit of goings on can now be seen and not just heard. Strangely I have noticed few squirrels and even fewer birds, the woods noticeably silenced by their absence. There are few acorns this year compared to previous ones, and so the food supply is low. All summer long there were huge numbers of squirrels so, although I am not a fan of them because of all the damage they have done to my bird feeders, finally forcing me to take them all down a few years back, I am concerned for the wildlife that inhabits my parcel of woodland. There were few berries this year because of all the rain and little sun, and even those are now gone, as are the seeds from the rose hips and perennials. I especially miss the bird songs that start immediately before sunrise, a happy sound to wake to. We had a blast of Arctic air sweep through here this week and it forced the last of the still blooming roses into dormancy. The 5 foot tall and equally as wide Kimberly Anne ferns reveal their form now in bronze fronds, blending into the browns, tans and pale yellows of the oak leaves on the ground.

A frost covered the leaves mid week, and as the sun squinted through the bare branches, the leaves caught the light and glistened like crystal. The damp coating took the crunch out of this leaf carpet as I walked around the house and gardens, breathing in the very nippy but revitalizing air and glimpses of the last of autumns vibrant offerings.

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The brightly colored trees along neighborhood streets are quickly giving way to winters dormancy, and piles leaves.

One can leave in the morning to color, but with brisk winds, return to a few leaves stubbornly hanging on……

And even they succumb to the leaf piles that are now browns and tans, crunchy underfoot.

Colorado has the beauty of Aspens and the luminous white bark that still puts on a show during winter after the bright yellow leaves have fallen to the ground.

A final walk through the woods, where instead of cooling off in the streams, we watch the flow of the water and the passenger leaves as they travel the current to disintegration.

The nearby mountains of West Virginia offer the green of pine and fir trees as consolation for the passing of peak autumn color.

The golden glow will be missed.

A farewell to autumn light as it is quickly changing to the foggy grays of winter.

The few acorns in my oak studded woods are rare this autumn.

It is time to enjoy the last of it from inside and begin a more reflective season, while remembering the hope offered in the changing of the seasons.

The lap blankets that took off the chill in early autumn when the sun could still contribute enough warmth that sitting on the deck was comfortable, are now inside waiting…….

……..waiting for the time of hot tea, with amber honey, now ready to serve as reminders of the active and colorful garden season when bees went about their business making us the ultimate sweet winter condiment, which we sip under the warmth of the same blankets.

Maybe some sweet bread pudding awaits.

Or perhaps a coffee or espresso.

The quick shift this year from a wet and wicked summer, to a less than stellar autumn reminds us that Mother Nature is always in charge. We grab the moments of beauty, savor them in the moment, and accept another goodbye to another season. As always, thank you for stopping by. Laters, charisse